Game 29 lineups: Nats at Red Sox

Game 29 lineups: Nats at Red Sox
They are playing baseball tonight in Boston, where the Nationals make their first trip to Fenway Park since 2015 and only their fourth visit in club history. Each of the three previous series there has been lopsided: The not-so-good 2006 Nats were swept, the very good 2012 team swept the Red Sox in something of a coming-out party and the disappointing 2015 team played poorly while losing two-of-three in a mid-April series. Tonight is a special occasion across the majors, which is celebrating a...

Nationals play on, lose another to Phillies (updated)

Nationals play on, lose another to Phillies (updated)
As a significant portion of the sporting world stepped off the field and the court tonight in an attempt to redirect attention toward racial inequality and police brutality, the Nationals and Phillies played as scheduled, the domino effect of the Milwaukee Bucks' decision to call off their NBA playoff game having not had much time to reach Washington before this early 6:05 p.m. ballgame. Players, managers and others with both clubs surely will have things to say about what's happening in this...

Nats lose battle of bullpens to Phillies after rain delay (updated)

Nats lose battle of bullpens to Phillies after rain delay (updated)
Rarely do we think of D.C.'s summer weather as an advantage for the Nationals, who lament the heat, humidity and evening thunderstorms as much as any commuter from Fairfax or Silver Spring. But when a storm rolled through South Capitol Street at the end of the fifth inning tonight, it felt appropriate to wonder if the Nats might actually benefit from the situation. When play resumed, the Phillies were probably going to have to pull starter Jake Arrieta, even though he had cruised through five...

Spirited rally can't make up for Voth's continued struggles (updated)

Spirited rally can't make up for Voth's continued struggles (updated)
That the Nationals stayed in the fight tonight and didn't roll over after trailing the Marlins by seven runs early is testament to their gumption - even in the middle of a crowd-less, disappointing-to-date 2020 season. But at the end of an 11-8 loss that saw the home team's spirited rally fall short, the most significant development of the night was the manner in which that early seven-run deficit came about. If these were normal times and they had one of baseball's best rotations, the...

Eaton struggling without fans in the stands

Eaton struggling without fans in the stands
For the Nationals to return to the power offense they enjoyed when they were really rolling in 2019, the club needs the top of the lineup to get on base. Trea Turner and Adam Eaton are keys to the offense, setting the table for Juan Soto, Howie Kendrick, Asdrúbal Cabrera and Eric Thames. Unfortunately, the pair has not been in sync for extended periods of time at the beginning of this shortened season. Turner has been coming around. Now riding a nine-game hitting streak after Sunday's...

Turner hot and Sánchez cool as Nats roll past Marlins 9-3 (updated)

Turner hot and Sánchez cool as Nats roll past Marlins 9-3 (updated)
Trea Turner went 3-for-3 with a triple and three RBIs and Aníbal Sánchez allowed only one run over seven innings for his first win of the season as the Nationals dispatched the Marlins 9-3 on Sunday afternoon. The Nats offense finally got rolling, tallying nine runs through five innings, including five in the fifth, to coast to their 11th victory on the season, evening the series at two games apiece. In the first, Turner singled to extend his hitting streak to nine games. He came around...

Thames more relaxed further down the order

Thames more relaxed further down the order
First baseman Eric Thames went 2-for-5 with three RBIs in the Nationals' 8-5 comeback win over the division rival Braves on Tuesday night, all from the No. 8 spot in the order. Along with Trea Turner and Adam Eaton, Thames was credited with a team-high three hard-hit balls on the night, according to Statcast. Thames contributed an RBI single in the second inning that got the Nats on the board. In the fifth with the bases loaded and one out, his hotshot grounder dropped out of the glove of...

Game 14 lineups: Nats at Mets

Game 14 lineups: Nats at Mets
When last we saw him on the mound, Max Scherzer was slogging his way through a 27-pitch top of the first against the Mets, clearly not right. Turns out he had "tweaked" his right hamstring the previous day and decided he shouldn't try to continue to pitch through it. Six days later, Scherzer is back on the mound, back facing the Mets, believing the same thing won't happen again. He passed all his required tests during the week, but the real test will come in the bottom of the first tonight...

Scherzer ready, Eaton rests, first taxi squad deployed

Scherzer ready, Eaton rests, first taxi squad deployed
After throwing two days ago and testing out his hamstring, Max Scherzer went up to Davey Martinez and said he could pitch that night. The manager chucked today as he recalled the story and the three-time Cy Young Award winner who would make such a ridiculous offer. "Your day is coming up," Martinez told him. "So be ready." That day is Tuesday. Scherzer will start against the Mets at Citi Field, making his scheduled turn in the rotation as promised when he had to depart his last outing after...

Hot night for Kendrick lifts Nats past Mets 5-3

Hot night for Kendrick lifts Nats past Mets 5-3
Howie Kendrick had not played in a game since July 28. Recently, manager Davey Martinez said the veteran was dealing with upper back tightness, so the skipper decided to rest him. Following their game against the Blue Jays July 30, the Nationals had five days off because their series with the Marlins was postponed. Kendrick was able to get about four at-bats in during their intrasquad game Sunday. The rest and then a final warmup appeared to pay dividends for Kendrick on Tuesday night in his...

Nats win 10-inning pitchers' duel to snap skid (updated)

Nats win 10-inning pitchers' duel to snap skid (updated)
Whether played in Washington, Toronto, Buffalo or Sheboygan, tonight's game between the Nationals and Blue Jays deserved to be played in front of a packed house. It was that good. Alas, you can't play a ballgame in front of anyone right now, so the select few who were allowed inside Nationals Park to witness this taut pitchers' duel that ended as a 4-0, 10-inning victory for the Nats could only appreciate it for everyone else watching at home. Playing under Major League Baseball's funky new...

Scherzer and rookie Pearson in pitching duel (Nats win 4-0 in 10)

Scherzer and rookie Pearson in pitching duel (Nats win 4-0 in 10)
Top Blue Jays prospect Nate Pearson went toe-to-toe with three-time Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer Wednesday night at Nats Park in Toronto's "home" opener. In the first three innings, Pearson allowed one hit and two walks but no runs, with two strikeouts. His fastball ranging from 96 to 98 mph. In the first inning, Adam Eaton walked with one out and stole second base. He got to third with two outs but was stranded there on an Eric Thames' line drive out to left field. In the third...

Roark's curveball helps confuse former team as Blue Jays sweep Nats

Roark's curveball helps confuse former team as Blue Jays sweep Nats
The Nationals did not have a good start again Tuesday night. This time, it was an old friend who made them uncomfortable. In his first start at Nationals Park since Sept. 5, 2018, right-hander Tanner Roark beat his former team as the Blue Jays dropped the Nats 5-1, sweeping the two-game series. Roark spent six seasons with the Nats from 2013-2018, and was a member of three National East championship clubs. His three best seasons in the majors, going a combined 44-31, coincided with...

Eaton's RBI single answers Guerrero's early homer (Nats fall 5-1)

Eaton's RBI single answers Guerrero's early homer (Nats fall 5-1)
The Blue Jays got ahead of right-hander Austin Voth and the Nationals in the second inning on a home run from Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Left fielder Emilio Bonifácio and center fielder Victor Robles went after Guerrero's long fly ball to left-center field. The two collided at the wall and the ball went over the fence for a home run. Robles appeared to have the ball in his glove for a moment right before the two collided. Bonifácio went down on his back but got up with the help of Robles. The...

Rain-shortened loss caps sad day for Nationals (updated)

Rain-shortened loss caps sad day for Nationals (updated)
It should've been a glorious day, a chance to celebrate what happened at the end of the 2019 season and begin the 2020 season with a marquee matchup. Alas, July 23, 2020 will not be remembered fondly by anyone in these parts. Unless you're a Yankees fan glad your team was awarded a rain-shortened 4-1 victory over the Nationals to cap off an evening that didn't go according to anyone's plan. The Nationals lost their season opener after managing one hit (Adam Eaton's first-inning homer) in...

Yankees up early on Scherzer (Nats fall 4-1 in five innings)

Yankees up early on Scherzer (Nats fall 4-1 in five innings)
The Nationals celebrated their first world championship with a flag raising in the center field plaza and a hoisting of the 2019 World Series pennant above the video board in right field before tonight's Major League Baseball opener against the Yankees at Nationals Park. One can only imagine how loud Nats Park would have been in any other season opener with 43,000 fans on their feet to share in the accomplishment. But this is 2020, and with the world in the throes of the coronavirus pandemic,...

Nats ready to take next step with first exhibition game

Nats ready to take next step with first exhibition game
They've spent the last two weeks working first in small groups, then as a full (socially distanced) unit. They took grounders. They took batting practice. They threw off the bullpen mound. They simulated some game situations. And they played several intrasquad games. And now, at long last, the Nationals will take the field and play a baseball game against an opposing team for the first time in 127 days. It's not a real game, merely an exhibition. But this Saturday evening gathering with the...

Eaton on playing in empty stadiums: "We are nothing without our fans"

Eaton on playing in empty stadiums: "We are nothing without our fans"
In a world fighting through the coronavirus pandemic, baseball will begin the season with no fans in the stands. So how important is crowd noise to the players and to the coaches? Will there be an advantage or disadvantage in hearing what everyone is saying, having it echo throughout the field and the park? Nationals manager Davey Martinez understands it is a unique situation. The club had hoped to celebrate their World Series title with an opening day banner-raising in front of their adoring...

Nats try to make most of limited games, MLB releases test results

Nats try to make most of limited games, MLB releases test results
With only three true exhibition games on their schedule, the Nationals aren't going to get much of an opportunity to build themselves up into regular season shape before opening night arrives July 23. They have to make the most of whatever game-like situations they can draw up in the meantime, such as today's four-inning intrasquad contest at Nationals Park. "I don't feel like these guys are not going to be ready or not be prepared for what's to come," manager Davey Martinez said. "I...

Eaton trying to keep it loose on field during this anxious time

Eaton trying to keep it loose on field during this anxious time
Adam Eaton got to stand in for a couple of at-bats against right-hander Stephen Strasburg in Friday's morning sim game. He jokingly acted like he was going to bunt early on in the first at-bat, smiling as he returned to the batter's box. The right fielder ended up lining out to center field and then later grounded out back to Strasburg. All in all, he was happy to see real-life pitching as summer training reaches its second week. "It was good. Workouts have been smooth, just as all of...